IHC Rejects PESCO Plea, Orders Treatment for Electrocuted 9-Year-Old

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday dismissed an appeal filed by the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) against a lower forum’s directive ordering full medical treatment and rehabilitation for nine-year-old Lubaba, who lost both her arms to an electric shock caused by exposed power infrastructure.

In an exhaustive 11-page written judgment, the high court upheld the previous court order, ruling that power distribution entities cannot evade financial and moral responsibility for life-altering injuries caused by negligent infrastructure maintenance. The court observed that the young victim suffered catastrophic, irreversible physical loss due to exposed high-tension lines, making comprehensive medical support and artificial limb funding an imperative obligation for the state utility.

The landmark ruling underscores growing judicial scrutiny over severe safety lapses and criminal negligence across Pakistan’s power distribution sector, where loose, uninsulated wiring frequently leads to fatal accidents or permanent disabilities among citizens. Human rights advocate and civil society organizations have welcomed the judgment, characterizing it as a vital precedent that reinforces public accountability for public utility providers.

Following the dismissal of PESCO’s petition, the court instructed the utility company to immediately facilitate the necessary financial disbursements for Lubaba’s medical procedures and long-term prosthetic care, while urging regulatory bodies to enforce strict safety compliance on grid networks nationwide.